When Italy joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2019, it was a big deal. A majority of the world – 148 states – may have signed up to the ambitious global investment programme at the time, but Italy was the only member of the G7 to do so. Despite northern European stereotypes about it being a country of style and siestas, it is globally the eighth-largest economy. Italy being in the BRI gave weight to the idea that the ancient Silk Roads could be revived throughout the breadth of the Eurasian landmass.
But now the country’s defence minister, Guido Crosetto, has not only suggested that the agreement should not be renewed automatically next March. He has said that the decision to join in the first place was an “improvised and wicked act”. This is very strange and emotional language to use about a loose association that aims to boost trade and build much-needed infrastructure. It is also inconsistent with Mr Crosetto’s aim of walking back from the BRI “without damaging relations” with Beijing, as he put it in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
But his words are not backed by the facts in any case. “We exported a load of oranges to China, they tripled exports to Italy in three years,” complained Mr Crosetto. But Politico reports that: “Chinese exports to Italy increased 51 per cent from 2019 to 2022, while China's imports from the EU country rose by 26 per cent during the same years, according to Italy’s Trade Agency.” That’s either an awful lot of oranges, or it’s way more substantial than that.
If the Italian government wanted to leave the BRI, it could done so diplomatically
What is true is that Chinese foreign direct investment in Italy has been very low over the past few years. So if the Italian government wanted to leave the BRI, it could have done so diplomatically by citing those figures and saying that the partnership hadn’t really worked out, but had been a worthwhile effort.
Instead, Mr Crosetto has used words that appear calculated to offend, playing straight into the narrative that the BRI is either some kind of con trick or a cunning ploy by which other countries will unwittingly end up under Beijing’s influence. It is no surprise that several reports about his explosive intervention all refer to China’s “controversial” BRI, as though the adjective naturally attaches itself to the initiative.
That is not a view, however, that is supported by any objective study of the BRI. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, for instance, describes it more soberly and sensibly: “China’s Belt and Road Initiative is a strategy initiated by the People’s Republic of China that seeks to connect Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks with the aim of improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth. The BRI has been associated with a very large programme of investments in infrastructure development for ports, roads, railways and airports, as well as power plants and telecommunications networks … The BRI now places increasing emphasis on ‘high quality investment’, including through greater use of project finance, risk mitigation tools, and green finance.”
As someone who represented Malaysia at a conference on the BRI in Bangladesh, in the heart of a region – South and South-East Asia – that has direct knowledge of the BRI’s effects, I say: that’s more like it.
One of my fellow speakers, Dr Zhang Jiadong of China’s Fudan University, put it aptly. The BRI is not a new form of Chinese colonisation, he said, neither is it a strategy. “It is a process” whose focus had shifted “from economic development to constructing a community of ‘shared destiny for all mankind’”.
A 2020 report published by Chatham House, titled Debunking the Myth of “Debt-trap Diplomacy”, defused one of the main charges against the BRI, with the authors concluding that “developing country governments are not hapless victims of a predatory Beijing. They – and their associated political and economic interests – determine the nature of BRI projects on their territory”.
That includes negotiating with Chinese state-owned firms to ensure that local populations make up a satisfactory proportion of the workforce on projects, and undertaking analyses into affordability, sustainability and long-term returns on investment. Just being responsible, in other words.
Italy’s Mr Crosetto either has such a low opinion of his colleagues that he thinks they are not capable of behaving in such a manner if his country remains in the BRI, or he simply wants to have as little as possible to do with China or Chinese firms. Either way, if his aim was truly not to damage relations with Beijing, he would appear to have failed by speaking so discourteously.
Thus far, the reaction has been mild. An editorial on viewing the BRI as a “trojan horse” in the Chinese Communist Party’s Global Times stated: “We do not want to see a closed and conservative Europe, and China has no intention to change Europe … The intermingling and interaction of different civilisations is the path to joint development in the new era.”
If Italy, and Europe as a whole, cannot see the BRI as “a pathway through which we can collaborate and enhance mutual understanding”, as Global Times puts it, but instead insists on demonising it in the crudest terms on the basis of cherry-picked facts and unsubstantiated smears, a huge opportunity will have been lost. And as a European living in Asia, it dismays me to see such unwarranted hostility to what could be the 21st century’s greatest trading initiative – all because it is led by China.
Key findings
- Over a period of seven years, a team of scientists analysed dietary data from 50,000 North American adults.
- Eating one or two meals a day was associated with a relative decrease in BMI, compared with three meals. Snacks count as a meal. Likewise, participants who ate more than three meals a day experienced an increase in BMI: the more meals a day, the greater the increase.
- People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”.
- Those who turned the eating day on its head to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, did even better.
- But scrapping dinner altogether gave the best results. The study found that the BMI of subjects who had a long overnight fast (of 18 hours or more) decreased when compared even with those who had a medium overnight fast, of between 12 and 17 hours.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
The five pillars of Islam
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
Thor: Ragnarok
Dir: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson
Four stars
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Top 5 concerns globally:
1. Unemployment
2. Spread of infectious diseases
3. Fiscal crises
4. Cyber attacks
5. Profound social instability
Top 5 concerns in the Mena region
1. Energy price shock
2. Fiscal crises
3. Spread of infectious diseases
4. Unmanageable inflation
5. Cyber attacks
Source: World Economic Foundation
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, Friday, March 29, 5pm at The Sevens, Dubai
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Fixtures (6pm UAE unless stated)
Saturday Bournemouth v Leicester City, Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm), Huddersfield v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm), Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Stoke City v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham United v Swansea City
Sunday Arsenal v Brighton (3pm), Everton v Burnley (5.15pm), Newcastle United v Liverpool (6.30pm)
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
